The Wars of the Jews; Or, The History of the Destruction of JerusalemJosephus, Flavius
Religion
The Wars of the Jews; Or, The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem
Josephus, Flavius
Jews -- History
4. Vespasian also, the very next day, took his whole army and followed
them, and by marching till late in the evening, arrived then at
Jotapata; and bringing his army to the northern side of the city, he
pitched his camp on a certain small hill which was seven furlongs from
the city, and still greatly endeavored to be well seen by the enemy, to
put them into a consternation; which was indeed so terrible to the Jews
immediately, that no one of them durst go out beyond the wall. Yet did
the Romans put off the attack at that time, because they had marched all
the day, although they placed a double row of battalions round the
city, with a third row beyond them round the whole, which consisted of
cavalry, in order to stop up every way for an exit; which thing making
the Jews despair of escaping, excited them to act more boldly; for
nothing makes men fight so desperately in war as necessity.
5. Now when the next day an assault was made by the Romans, the Jews at
first staid out of the walls and opposed them, and met them, as having
formed themselves a camp before the city walls. But when Vespasian had
set against them the archers and slingers, and the whole multitude that
could throw to a great distance, he permitted them to go to work, while
he himself, with the footmen, got upon an acclivity, whence the city
might easily be taken. Josephus was then in fear for the city, and
leaped out, and all the Jewish multitude with him; these fell together
upon the Romans in great numbers, and drove them away from the wall, and
performed a great many glorious and bold actions. Yet did they suffer
as much as they made the enemy suffer; for as despair of deliverance
encouraged the Jews, so did a sense of shame equally encourage the
Romans. These last had skill as well as strength; the other had only
courage, which armed them, and made them fight furiously. And when the
fight had lasted all day, it was put an end to by the coming on of the
night. They had wounded a great many of the Romans, and killed of them
thirteen men; of the Jews' side seventeen were slain, and six hundred
wounded.
6. On the next day the Jews made another attack upon the Romans, and
went out of the walls and fought a much more desperate battle with them
than before. For they were now become more courageous than formerly, and
that on account of the unexpected good opposition they had made the day
before, as they found the Romans also to fight more desperately; for a
sense of shame inflamed these into a passion, as esteeming their failure
of a sudden victory to be a kind of defeat. Thus did the Romans try to
make an impression upon the Jews till the fifth day continually, while
the people of Jotapata made sallies out, and fought at the walls most
desperately; nor were the Jews affrighted at the strength of the enemy,
nor were the Romans discouraged at the difficulties they met with in
taking the city.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account